Two of the three candidates on the short list to be president of the University of Texas at Austin remain in the hunt, sources say. The front-runner comes with a very good pedigree — and a very large price tag.
Bobby Blanchard
Bobby Blanchard joined The Texas Tribune’s audience team in 2016 and led the team from 2021 to 2023, strategizing to expand the organization’s reach and engagement across all platforms. A graduate of UT-Austin, Bobby spent his first year out of college at The Dallas Morning News as a reporting fellow, covering Texas politics and breaking news. He got his start in journalism in the poorly lit basement of The Daily Texan, followed by internships at the Houston Chronicle, KUT News and the Tribune. Born and raised in the Houston area, Bobby is a native Texan.
Posted inState Government
DPS Calls Glitter Bombs “Weapon of Choice” for Gay Rights Advocates
In an email sent to legislative staffers, a DPS captain warns of “glitter bombs” being sent to lawmakers and attaches a document titled “Glitter Bombing: Weapon of Choice for Gay Rights, Pro Choice Advocates.”
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Higher Education
Abbott’s UT Regent Appointees Head to Full Senate
After grilling Gov. Greg Abbott’s three University of Texas System regent appointees last week, the Senate Committee on Nominations on Thursday recommended all of them to the full Senate for confirmation.
Posted in
Higher Education
House Leaders Seek to Phase Out B-On-Time Loan Program
Leaders in the Texas House are looking to phase out an incentive-based student loan program and redirect its funding toward a larger financial aid program that is based on need.
Posted in
Higher Education
UT Regents Still Eyeing President Candidates
After meeting behind closed doors for almost seven hours, the University of Texas System Board of Regents did not name a finalist to replace Bill Powers as president of the University of Texas at Austin on Wednesday.
Posted in
Higher Education
Regents Meeting on Next UT-Austin President
The University of Texas System Board of Regents will meet Wednesday to discuss who will replace Bill Powers as president of UT-Austin, but sources cautioned the board might not reach an immediate decision on a lone finalist.
Posted in
Higher Education
Senators Grill UT Regent Appointees
Senators grilled Gov. Greg Abbott’s appointees to the University of Texas System Board of Regents for more than five hours on Thursday, publicly rehashing the drama that has plagued the system’s flagship university in recent years.
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Higher Education
Regent Appointments Head to Nominations Hearing
Gov. Greg Abbott’s first three nominations for UT regents will seek the blessings of the Senate nominations committee at a Thursday hearing. The far right is grumbling about two of them.
Posted in
Higher Education
First Woman Assuming Command of A&M Corps
Alyssa Marie Michalke arrived at Texas A&M as a shy and quiet high school standout from Schulenburg, she says. Now a junior, she’s about to take charge of the famous and storied Corps of Cadets.
Posted in
Energy
Dealers Reach Out, but Tesla Slams the Door
Tesla Motors is ramping up its lobbying efforts to change a Texas law requiring that new cars be sold through franchised dealerships. But some dealers say they’d like a shot at moving a few of the luxury, all-electric cars.
